All those videos of Capitol Hill Keystone Kops waving people through provided an excellent defense to any of the January 6 Defendants whose essential offense was simple trespass:
A federal judge found a Jan. 6 defendant who entered the Capitol not guilty on all charges after he said he was waved in by two Capitol Police officers. The decision lays down the groundwork to push back against the Department of Justice’s charge that the hundreds of people on Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021 deserve to be punished.
U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden acquitted Matthew Martin of all misdemeanor charges on Wednesday after he said it was “plausible” that the defendant “reasonably believed” he had permission to be in the Capitol.
Go here to read the rest. I have ground my teeth as I have witnessed January 6 Defendants being represented by marginally competent, at best, private counsel, or being represented by appointed counsel who often were also only marginally competent, at best, plus clearly hostile to their clients.
Now Judge McFadden was appointed by Trump, and I am sure that didn’t hurt, but primarily Martin’s acquittal simply was due to having good counsel who knew how to raise a competent defense in a criminal case. It is a black mark against Trump, and the conservative movement in general, that funds have not been raised to provide the January 6 Defendants, the overwhelming majority of whom were guilty only of simple trespass at worst, with competent criminal defense counsel.
Matthew Martin and his lawyer speak outside the courthouse after his acquittal. Martin wants his job back. pic.twitter.com/QwYD7RhOMs
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) April 6, 2022
I’m pleased, but, were actual justice done, each of these cases would have been disposed of by JPs within weeks of an information being issued, and they’d have been done so in hearings which lasted about five minutes each. Penalty: one day in jail or a fine of $220. And not one of these people would have been taken into custody unless they failed to appear at their hearing. The behavior of prosecutors and judges (and public defenders, now and again) in these cases has been atrocious and every sanction which can be applied to abusive parties must be applied when possible.
As if you needed more proof that you live in a totalitarian state.
What Art said.
What do you mean? All I hear about is how much money those people are raising:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/01/politics/capitol-riot-crowdfunding/index.html
https://www.npr.org/2022/01/20/1073061575/experts-see-red-flags-at-nonprofit-raising-big-money-for-capitol-riot-defendants
https://www.law360.com/articles/1450682/web-donations-help-jan-6-suspects-tap-private-legal-muscle
Or are these getting shut down?
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/tyler-o-neil/2021/03/29/capitol-riot-cancel-culture-revs-into-high-gear-as-news-outlets-target-crowdfunding-sites-n1435847
Considering some of the rumors I’ve heard about the district these poor souls are being tried in, it’s a legitimate question on whether Trump giving them money would be a blessing or curse.
Considering some of the rumors I’ve heard about the district these poor souls are being tried in, it’s a legitimate question on whether Trump giving them money would be a blessing or curse.
Competent counsel Nate is always a blessing no matter where someone is being tried.